The Scottish Seafood Trail is a gastronomic godsend for lovers of ocean fare. You’ll spend six nights exploring Scotland’s west coast, visiting some of the country’s top seafood restaurants, meeting local fishermen and learning how to prepare the fish they catch. Highlights include a stop-off at the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and a visit to Gairloch, where you’ll get the chance to join a local fisherman before returning to dry land for lunch on the loch shore.

If you fancy channelling your inner Gordon Ramsay but don’t want to be subjected to a tirade of swearing, why not sign up for a cookery masterclass at the Portaferry Hotel, County Down? The Masterclass package includes home-made scones on arrival, a two-hour cookery lesson with head chef Gary Bell, followed by a three-course dinner with wine, overnight accommodation and a hearty breakfast. The small class sizes (two to six people) allow participants to make the most of their time with Bell, while the setting – the village of Portaferry on the Ards peninsula – makes this one of the more stunning places to hone your culinary skills.

If you like jamming – and no, we’re not talking about Bob Marley-related guitar sessions – head to Audley’s Wood hotel in Hampshire and find out how to make your very own preserves. Whether you’re simply looking to learn the basics or nab first place at the local village show, the guys at the Hampshire Jam & Chutney Company will teach you how to make the perfect jams, the chunkiest chutnies and the mellowest marmalades. The package includes an overnight stay at the hotel, along with breakfast, when you’ll be able to sample the fruits of your labour.

Sampling the finest Asian cuisine no longer requires taking a long-haul flight, thanks largely to award-winning chef Ryan Venning, who is based at The Herring restaurant at Cornwall’s Bedruthan Steps Hotel. Those signing up for the two-night break will go foraging for edible plants, such as pennywort, mustard leaf, sloe berries and samphire, before learning how to combine their foraged ingredients with locally caught round, flat or shell fish (depending on the daily catch) and then learning how to grill, pan fry or bake it.

The Vineyard at Stockcross is an award-winning hotel and restaurant in the heart of rural Berkshire known for its amazing food and a spectacular range of wines. Its glass wine vault is a recent addition, while the venue has also recently celebrated the arrival of its 30,000th bottle of wine. A Taste Of The Vineyard package includes one night’s accommodation, a seven-course dinner with matching wines and that bastion of Britishness, a full English breakfast.

If you like your food with a view, head to Richmond’s Bingham Hotel, which overlooks Richmond Park and the River Thames. Visitors opting for the Foodies package will enjoy afternoon tea on arrival, before sitting down to a seven-course tasting menu created by head chef Shay Cooper. When it comes to breakfast, guests can choose from a wide range of classics, including grilled kippers and eggs Benedict, all washed down with home-made smoothies. ‘The Bingham is worth the trip not only for its excellent Michelin-starred restaurant but also for its location in one of London’s most picturesque suburbs,’ says Heather Cowper, founder of www.heatheronhertravels.com .